From the Obama campaign...
RICHMOND, VA - Some of the top mayors in Virginia announced today their endorsement of Barack Obama for president, citing his commitment to a responsible end to the Iraq war and his record as a leader who can bring people together to fundamentally change our politics.Mayors Bill Euille of Alexandria, Nelson Harris of Roanoke and Dave Norris of Charlottesville announced their support for Obama on a conference call this morning. Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim also announced his endorsement today. Richmond Mayor and former Virginia Gov. Douglas Wilder endorsed Obama in January.
"Barack Obama is a leader who will help Virginia Democrats win up and down the ticket," Fraim said. "His proven ability to attract Independents and Republicans to his campaign, which helped him win in Iowa, South Carolina and rural Nevada, is exactly what will make him competitive in Virginia in November 2008."
Norris cited Obama's record of bringing people together to make government more transparent and limit nuclear weapons proliferation."As the mayor of a college town, one of the other things that is exciting about Barack Obama's candidacy is the way he has inspired so many young people to get involved," Norris said.
Cities need a partner at the federal level, Harris said, because increasingly, city governments are being called on to foot the bill for services the federal government used to fund.
"Obama's commitment to ending the Iraq war and bringing our troops home is a big reason why I'm supporting him," Euille said. "We're sending billions of dollars overseas to fund the war, and with its end, that's money that will stay in America to improve the quality of life residents of cities across the country."
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